Justin Trudeau to collect two pensions, $104K in severance
Former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s recent departure from politics will net him over $8 million across two pensions, plus a large severance cheque.
That’s according to calculations made public Wednesday by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, who released a chart of estimated pension and severance payouts to departing MPs.
“Pensions for former MPs depend on length of service and the rules at the time,” said CTF National Director Franco Terrazzano.
“When Canadians see some of these numbers, the clear takeaway is that these political pensions are costing taxpayers too
much money.” The former PM is entitled to two pensions – one for his nearly 17 years as a member of parliament, and a second for his decade as prime minister. Combined, both pensions are worth around $8.4 million, with his MP pension entitling him annual payouts of $141,000 per year when he turns 55 in two years, and an additional $73,000 annually upon turning 67.
“Trudeau is also going to be getting a severance just shy of $105,000,” Terrazzano added.
“When we speak of leadership at the top, the first place for politicians to reign in the perks is to end the second pension for future prime ministers. Continued on Page 10 ...
2 Indian students face deportation after ‘knowingly’ dragging Surrey pedestrian under their car
Horrific details are emerging in court about a deadly hit-and-run in Surrey in which a man was trapped under a car and, according to the prosecution, knowingly dragged more than a kilometre after being struck.
The actions of Gaganpreet Singh and Jagdeep Singh, who are now also facing deportation for their actions, are being described by the victim’s family as “unimaginably cruel.”
The pair has pleaded guilty to a number of offences, including failing to stop after an accident and interference with a dead body. On Jan. 27, 2024, a 45-year-old father and husband – being identified only as “J.G.” at the family’s request – was lying on the road when he was struck by a Ford Mustang. Continued on Page 10...
Steve Rai named new Vancouver police chief Indian man arrested in US for plotting to kill his wife
The Vancouver Police Board has appointed interim police chief Steve Rai to be the Vancouver Police Department's new chief constable.
Rai has more than three decades of experience with the Vancouver Police Department, the city said in a statement, having worked through the ranks to lead major operations, including the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and the 2011 Stanley Cup riot. Mayor Ken Sim said Rai was chosen to be new police chief following a thorough selection process.
"With Chief Rai at the helm, Vancouver is in strong hands as we work to build a safer, more connected, and more resilient city," Sim said.
Rai had recently received a national profile fronting briefings about the Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy that claimed 11 lives in Vancouver last month. The mayor called Rai — who was born in India's Punjab region, and grew up in Vancouver — "a powerful reflection of our city that's diverse, driven and rooted in service." His appointment as the department's 32nd chief constable comes after former chief Adam Palmer stepped down from the position he had held for 10 years.
An Indian-American, Darshan R Soni, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder after allegedly plotting to kill his wife in a plan that spanned months and included a failed poisoning attempt, a murder-for-hire scheme, and efforts to cover his tracks.
According to a probable cause affidavit filed in Hamilton County in Indians, Soni, 44, asked one of his employees, Ken Cox, to help carry out the murder. The plan allegedly involved
poisoning his wife and, when that failed, staging a break-in at their home on May 16, 2025, during which the murder was to occur.
The case unfolded after a tipster alerted authorities about Soni’s intentions. The tipster claimed Soni had previously asked them how to obtain a silencer and spoke about committing additional crimes. They also reported seeing Soni pick up a wig from Cox, presumably for use as a disguise.
Continued on Page 15...
Jamil Jivani launches petition to end temporary foreign worker program
Conservative MP Jamil Jivani has launched a petition to end the temporary foreign worker program. The petition says the temporary foreign worker program is a “large contributor” to an unsustainable level of immigration and claims the program is taking jobs away from Canadians and suppressing wages.
In a social media video about the petition, Jivani links immigration to doctor shortages, crowded hospitals, the housing crisis and a challenging
job market. “There’s a pretty clear consensus, even across people with different political views, that immigration levels are just unsustainably high,” Jivani said.
“Anyone who goes to a hospital can see there’s not enough beds. Anyone who goes to look for a family doctor can’t find one. You go to buy a house, there’s not enough of those. You go to find a job, there might not be one of those for you either.”
Continued on Page 10...
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Police appeal for witnesses to arson targeting Surrey home
Police are looking for witnesses to an arson that targeted a Surrey, B.C., home.
The Surrey Police Service (SPS) says it happened around 2:30 a.m. on May 11.
Three suspects parked near 123 Street and 97 Avenue, and then were seen carrying jerrycans and using a flammable liquid to set fire to a home near 122 Street and 97 Avenue.
The suspects then fled in a dark grey SUV with dark wheels and a sunroof, potentially a Dodge Durango.
Firefighters were able to douse the flames, and no one was hurt in the fire.
Anyone with information or video that could help the investigation is asked to contact the SPS at 604-599-0502.
No Surrey MPs were chosen to be a full minister in Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet – sworn in Tuesday – but veteran Surrey Centre MP Randeep Sarai got a junior post in a supporting role as secretary of state for international development.
Other B.C. MPs named to Carney's cabinet are Liberal newcomers Gregor Robertson (Vancouver Fraserview-South Burnaby) as housing and infrastructure minister and minister responsible for pacific economic development Canada, and Delta MP Jill McKnight (minister of veterans affairs; associate minister of national defence). Kelowna MP Stephen Fuhr is secretary of state for defence procurement and Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke MP Stephanie McLean is secretary of state for seniors. The cabinet has 28 ministers and 10 secretaries of state.
Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke is pleased with Sarai's post, saying it's an important one. She's also glad to see McKnight in cabinet, noting that her riding embraces a part of Surrey.
Locke had issued a statement calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney to choose a Surrey MP for his cabinet, ahead of her 2025 State of the City Address set for Wednesday, May 14 at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel.
Given Surrey's "extraordinary growth," size
and proximity to the U.S. and its "impending status as the first city in British Columbia to reach one million residents," she said, "we believe it is essential that Surrey has a strong voice at the federal cabinet table."
The mayor's annual address will be from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. and will be livestreamed. Once again, this year's "cost-neutral" event is sold out (418 seats), at $150 apiece, as well as in combinations and sponsored tickets. Last year's sold out, with tickets selling at $150 apiece and $1,650 for a table of 11. All told, 430 tickets were sold for that one.
In her statement, issued May 7, she congratulated Prime Minister Mark Carney on his election win and aimed to impress on him her desire to see him choose one of the newly elected Surrey MPs for his cabinet.
"This would ensure the unique needs and opportunities of our rapidly growing city are represented in the federal government," she said. "We believe this is a crucial step to support our continued development and to ensure that Surrey receives the attention and resources it deserves as a major Canadian city." Locke also noted Surrey has the "most available developable industrial land" in the Lower Mainland, at roughly 365 hectares. "In a region facing a severe shortage of industrial space, this is a massive opportunity."
BC’s ‘Paper Bag Rapist’ denied parole again
The man who sexually assaulted as many as 140 women and children across the Lower Mainland during the 1970s and 1980s has been denied parole again.
John Horace Oughton is known as the “Paper Bag Rapist” as he assaulted his victims while wearing theatre makeup, or a paper bag.
He was convicted in 1987 of two counts of rape, six counts of indecent assault and six counts of sexual assault with a weapon in B.C. Oughton is serving his sentence in the federal mediumsecurity Bowden Institution in Alberta.
Last month he applied for day and full parole and both were rejected.
In its decision, the parole board stated: “You have poor behaviour in the institution and past programs/ interventions have proved futile.”
“You remain an untreated sex offender … Releasing you in these conditions would jeopardize public safety.”
Two years ago, Oughton claimed he was dying of heart disease, but there is no mention of terminal illness in the documents from his latest hearing.
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim is calling for "concrete action" from the provincial and federal governments after two high-profile assaults in the city in recent weeks.
Peterhans Nungu, 34, was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily harm, police said, in connection with an assault in Coal Harbour on April 15. On Tuesday, police said he was granted bail and released from police custody on April 23, but was transferred to a secure medical facility where he was under medical supervision.
Police said he was released from the facility this week and will be living under house arrest in Vancouver.
Meanwhile, convicted sex offender Ronald Hartley Duckhorn, 35, was arrested and charged after a woman was attacked, robbed and sexually assaulted by a stranger in a Stanley Park bathroom on Monday. The latest charges against Duckhorn have not been proven in court. His next scheduled appearance is May 23 in Vancouver provincial court. After Sim's plea went public, Vancouver police sent out a news release saying they had arrested high-risk sex offender Randall Hopley on Thursday, not long after he was released from prison.
"Law enforcement agencies have done their job in identifying suspects and making arrests, but the judicial system is repeatedly letting victims down by allowing those with a high risk to reoffend back into the public," Sim said Thursday.
"The public deserves an answer from Attorney General Niki Sharma on why this continues to happen."
Changes to the Criminal Code went into effect in 2024 that aim to make it harder for people accused of violent crimes to be released if they have a history of serious and violent offences involving a weapon, and also in cases involving intimate partner violence.
University of the Fraser Valley criminologist Amanda McCormick told CBC's BC Today host Michelle Eliot that because Canada's justice system moves so slowly, it's hard to know what kind of impact that change has had on public safety.
"These days, we're seeing it takes a year, a couple of years, depending on the nature of the offence, before these cases go before court, so we just don't have that data at this point," she said. Sharma said bail reform is "completely essential" when it comes to improving public safety across B.C.
Donald Trump will visit Canada for G7, White House confirms
U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the G7 leaders’ summit in Canada next month, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed in a briefing.
Trump will be in Canada from June 15 to 17. More details of his visit will be announced shortly, Leavitt said.
Group (WBG), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and Financial Stability Board (FSB), participated in a three-day summit in Banff, Alta.
They discussed global trade, artificial intelligence and the war in Ukraine.
On May 6, during Mark Carney’s meeting with Trump at the White House, the prime minister noted that the two leaders “look forward to meeting next month at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis.”
The 51st G7 summit will be held from June 15 to 17 in Kananaskis, Alta., attended by the core members of the group. Also in attendance will be Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
This week, finance ministers from the G7 countries, as well as heads of the World Bank
“After 50 years of working together, transcending national differences and promoting global prosperity, the value of the G7 is clear,” the communique reads. “We held a productive and frank exchange of views on the current global economic and financial situation, the risks and opportunities common to our countries, and ways to address them.”
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, along with chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve Jerome Powell, represented the American delegation for this portion of the summit.
Canada’s Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne concluded the three-day meeting saying there was a sense of unity among the G7 members.
“The best proof of unity is that we have a joint communique,” Champagne said. The communique does not mention Trump’s tariffs, but addresses the multiple, complex global challenges,” and “are committed to pursuing our shared policy objectives.”
BC parents warned about kids’ summer safety
With summer on the horizon and warm weather already here for much of British Columbia, health officials are reminding parents to keep their children’s safety top of mind.
The changing weather brings a wealth of seasonspecific dangers for kids and toddlers, including dangerous falls and the risk of drowning, BC Children’s Hospital executive director of clinical operations Christy Hay told.
“Kids are very curious, so they like to explore the outdoors,” she said.
BC Children’s Hospital saw 15 admissions last year involving falls from open windows or balconies, one of the most dangerous hazards of the season. “The falls can be quite serious and often involve a head, neck or spine injury and lead to devastating impacts for the child long-term, or worst-case scenario, children can die,” Hay said.
Safety around water is equally important, she said,
and not just lakes, rivers and swimming pools.
“Even small ponds in your backyard that might not be deep can be very dangerous for a young child or toddler,” Hay said.
“A child may drown, and that is the worst thing that can happen, of course, to any parent.”
Hay said it is critical to have age-appropriate conversations with children to proactively educate them about the safety risks that come with summer.
Water safety:
- Children need constant supervision when they are around any body of water.
- Adults should be within an arm’s reach at all times.
- Never assume that a child who knows how to swim isn’t at risk of drowning.
- Ensure that children are wearing properly fitting flotation devices when they are in or around water.
Health and Wellness seminar by SABA this Sunday
The South Asian Business Association (SABA) is hosting a health and wellness seminar this week Sunday, May 25, from 11 am to 3 pm at the Grand Empire Banquet Hall, #207 – 12888 80th Ave,.(Payal Business Centre) Surrey.
Admission is free but pre-registration required as space is limited.
Everyone is welcome to join SABA for a day focused on health, wellness, and community empowerment.
This health and wellness seminar is open to the public and brings together a panel of leading healthcare professionals to share valuable insights on physical and mental wellbeing.
It will feature topics and experts in: Addictions and Mental Health: From Reflection to Action Optimizing Brain Health through Nutrition & Lifestyle Changes
Expert Panel Includes:
Dr. Parmveer Brar – Emergency Medicine
Physician (BSc, MD, CCFP-EM)
Dr. Sundeep Thinda – Registered Psychologist
Dr. Preet Chahal – Neurologist & Regional Head of Neurology, Fraser Health Authority
Dr. Chattar RS Gill – Dentist, Diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine
Visitors will participate in Expert-led sessions
Interactive Q&A panel discussion
Complimentary lunch
Networking opportunities
Community resources
Register by eventbrite
For more information, please contact Dimpu Thandi: 604-417-5188
Amar Sohal: 604-345-6950
Lakhvinder Gill: 604-725-6734
Canada in talks to join US Golden Dome missile defence system: Carney
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Wednesday his government is talking to the US about joining President Donald Trump’s future Golden Dome missile defense program.
The multi-layered, USD 175 billion system would for the first time put US weapons in space.
Trump said the previous day he expected the system to be fully operational by the end of his term in 2029.
“Is it a good idea for Canada? Yes, it is a good to have protections in place for Canadians,” Carney said.
Carney confirmed he’s had talks with Trump about it and said there are discussions with senior officials. Trump said the Canadian government had contacted his administration indicating it wants to join the program and that he will work with Ottawa to ensure it contributes its “fair share.”
looking at and something that has been discussed at a high level.” Carney said. “But not I’m not sure one negotiates on this. These are military decisions that have been taken in that context, and we will evaluate it accordingly.”
Carney warned that Canada faces potential missiles threats in the “nottoo-distant future” that could come from space.
“Is Canada going to be doing this alone or with the United States? Because with a Golden Dome, there will be discussions that could have an impact on Canada, but Canada wouldn’t be a part of them,” Carney said.
Golden Dome is envisioned to include groundand space-based capabilities to detect and stop missiles at all four major stages of a potential attack: detecting and destroying them before a launch, intercepting them in their earliest stage of flight, stopping them midcourse in the air, or halting them in the final minutes as they descend toward a target. “It’s something that we are
The Pentagon has warned for years that the newest missiles developed by China and Russia are so advanced that updated countermeasures are necessary. Golden Dome’s added satellites and interceptors — where the bulk of the program’s cost is — would be focused on stopping those advanced missiles early on or in the middle of their flight.
Canada and the U.S. are partners in the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the combined organization that provides shared defense of airspace over the two nations.
City of Surrey takes action on owner who illegally built a house instead of approved barn
Another two residential properties have been flagged by the City of Surrey for punitive action, after the owners illegally constructed and occupied the buildings without permits and in violation of municipal bylaws. During a public meeting on Tuesday, Surrey City Council approved filing the notice on title to two properties.
“All of which were done without permits,” emphasized Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke. “Surrey City Council is dedicated to upholding our community standards and protecting residents’ safety… Our recent actions against these properties demonstrate our ongoing commitment to enforce building bylaws and prevent illegal construction,” said Locke.
“I want to commend our Illegal Construction Enforcement Team for their diligent work in holding violators accountable. Ensuring all structures meet safety and permitting standards is essential to maintaining the character and security of our neighbourhoods.” The property of 17669 40th Ave. — situated near the intersection of Pacific
Highway and 40th Avenue, within the Agricultural Land Reserve area just west of Campbell Heights — had residential units that were constructed in what was originally proposed and approved to be a barn, according to City officials. The City first became aware of this property’s unpermitted construction in June 2023, with City staff, including building inspectors, subsequently making numerous visits to the property. The City issued a “Stop Work Order” on the construction on June 29, 2023, and another repost on July 19, 2023, after it was apparent that construction was still ongoing, with progress made since the previous visit. Another “Stop Work Order” was posted on June 3, 2024, after the previous notice was removed from the property’s exterior.
The owners acquired the property in 2015, and the City issued a building permit for the construction of a single-family house in 2019. Two revised building permits were issued in 2020, and another building permit was issued in 2021 for the construction of a one-storey farm building.
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OPINION
Blame Ottawa, not Washington, for High grocery bills
By Sylvain Charlebois
It was expected, but still jarring. In April, food inflation in Canada surged to 3.8 per cent—a full 2.1 percentage points above the national inflation rate and nearly double the U.S. rate of two per cent. Once again, food is the primary driver behind headline inflation, amplifying affordability concerns across the country.
But this isn’t just a story of global disruption or seasonal cycles. It’s increasingly clear that Canada’s food inflation is largely homegrown—a direct result of domestic policy missteps, particularly tariffs and protectionist procurement practices.
Since March, when both Canada and the United States introduced a new round of tariffs, the difference in outcomes has been striking. U.S. food inflation has continued to cool, while Canada’s has nearly tripled over the same period—a divergence that should raise serious red flags in two integrated economies.
Drill into the 3.8 per cent figure and the underlying pressure becomes obvious. Meat prices climbed 5.8 per cent year-overyear, with beef up a staggering 16.5 per cent. Egg prices rose 3.9 per cent, while fresh fruit and vegetable prices increased by five per cent and 3.7 per cent, respectively. These are not one-off anomalies—they reflect sustained cost increases made worse by flawed policy. Canada’s earlier decision to implement counter-tariffs—retaliatory taxes on U.S. imports in response to American trade moves—disrupted long-standing crossborder supply chains. To avoid higher import costs, grocers pivoted away from U.S. suppliers, particularly in fresh produce and frozen foods, and turned to costlier or less efficient alternatives. That shift is now showing up on Canadians’ grocery bills.
Fortunately, there’s been a course correction. According to Oxford Economics, a global forecasting and analysis firm, Prime Minister Mark Carney has quietly rolled back many of the counter-tariffs that had been inflating food costs. The move, while politically sensitive, was economically sound and long overdue. Early signs suggest that pressure on the supply chain is beginning to ease, and over time, this could help stabilize prices.
Still, Canada’s food inflation stands out. Among G7 nations, it now ranks second-highest, behind only Japan. Food price increases in France, Germany, Italy, the U.K. and the U.S. remain well below ours.
Kamloops MP billed taxpayers $769K last year — second most in House of Commons
Kamloops MP Frank Caputo was the second-highest spending member in the House of Commons last year, according to federal expenditure records.
Caputo, who was re-elected last month as MP for Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola, spent a little more than $769,000 last year as the member from Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, second only to Bloq Québécois MP Kristina Michaud, who billed taxpayers $775,000. Alberta Conservative Mike Lake was third at $745,000.
Canadian MPs spent a record $187.8 million in 2024, up $12.7 million over the previous year, including $114.1 million for staff pay, $39.8 million for third-party contracts and $1.9 million for hospitality expenses.
About 60 per cent of Caputo's expenses last year went to pay his staff — $444,256 of the $769,159 grand total. Caputo said he wants to pay a living wage and believes his staffers should be paid more. According to House of Commons data, Caputo spent $202,299 on travel, $120,255 on contract expenses like rent, advertising and
operations and $2,343 on hospitality.
When asked about his expenses, Caputo said he serves one of the largest geographical ridings in the country. He said flying out of Kamloops Airport means fewer options, more stops and higher prices.
Even with travel excluded, Caputo still made the top five in expenses for 2024.
He told Castanet Kamloops he monitors his spending closely and has always stayed within his budget, noting he had a carry over from 2023 and that his travel costs get coverage under the points system.
“At the end of the day, we have rules and I've always complied with those rules,” he said.
Caputo said not all MPs' budgets are created equal.
For 2025-26, for example, parliamentarians have a base budget of $429,600, which is then augmented based on factors including population density, geographic size and remoteness.
Caputo said that for 2025-26, he has the ninth
highest budget of the 343 MPs in Ottawa — $510,650. “Everything costs money, whether it be opening up an office in 100 Mile or going to a rink opening in Vavenby," he said. "I was very careful to ensure that whatever I did, we got bang for our buck."
By comparison, Caputo spent a few hundred thousand dollars more than his colleague North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Mel Arnold, who billed taxpayers $621,348 in 2024. Kelowna-Lake Country MP Tracy Gray spent $590,053 and Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty's expenses totalled $651,367. All are Tory MPs.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre was the highest-spending leader last year with about $8.8 million in expenditures — more than double the $4.2-million bill of former prime minister Justin Trudeau.
The vast majority of Poilievre's expenses — $7.4 million — went to pay his staff. Spending associated with his constituency and role as an MP was among the lowest in the House of Commons at $241,000.
ban as no deal reached
Despite no deal being reached between their employer and union, Canada Post employees will remain on the job but are directed to refuse overtime work. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers, which represents about 55,000 Canada Post workers, announced hours before the midnight strike deadline that a nationwide overtime ban would begin on Friday.
“While this action does constitute a continuation of our strike activity, postal workers will remain on the job to minimize disruption to the public,” CUPW said in a statement.
During the ban, Canada Post workers will only be required to work a maximum of eight hours a day, forty hours a week. The union said letter carriers should return to their depot after eight hours of work, regardless of whether they have completed their routes. CUPW said it will continue to review and analyze Canada Post’s Global Offers.
First Nations, local governments ramp up opposition to BC ‘fast-track’ bill
British Columbia’s NDP government is facing more pushback on legislation aimed at fasttracking major projects in the province.
First Nations and municipal leaders joined together on Thursday to call for the government to withdraw Bill 15, the Infrastructure Projects Act, which would grant cabinet new powers to expedite “provincially significant” projects.
At a joint press conference, the First Nations Leadership Council and the Union of BC Municipalities said they hadn’t been sufficiently consulted on the bill. The legislation, as drafted, conflicts with the government’s obligations under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples while granting the province “extraordinary powers” to override local government regulations, including zoning bylaws and official community plans, the groups said.
Union of British Columbia Municipalities president Trish Mandewo said that municipalities welcome the province’s focus on speeding up housing construction. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, said Bill 15 and the similar Bill 14, which aims to streamline renewable
energy project approvals, defy the province’s stated commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
“First Nations are not opposed to responsible development, and we understand the need to expedite the approval and construction of hospitals, schools, and other critical infrastructure,” he said.
“But Bills 14 and 15 go well beyond that, and the process that led to their development flouted First Nations’ basic human rights and the province’s own law, policy, and processes. There’s only one way forward: the province must withdraw the bills as currently drafted, and we must work on principled solutions to the myriad of crises we face together.”
B.C. Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma has previously admitted that the province “made an error” in not adequately consulting First Nations on Bill 15.
But the provincial government has rejected criticism from First Nations and environmental groups, saying the bill does not change environmental standards or affect First Nations’ constitutional right to consultation on projects.
Canada’s western premiers say they’ve agreed to identify, plan and develop new economic corridors to connect provincial resources to international markets.
A joint statement issued Thursday says doing so would boost Canada’s market access in Asia and Europe while the country fights a trade war with the United States and China.
“Nation-building infrastructure in Western Canada, such as highways, railways, ports, airports, pipelines, nuclear projects and electricity transmission systems, are crucial for driving Canadian productivity growth, energy security and economic competitiveness,” says the statement from the leaders of British Columbia, the Prairie provinces and the northern territories.
“This includes developing and transporting oil and gas, liquefied natural gas, uranium, electricity and hydroelectricity to Canadian and world markets, as well as in emerging opportunities such as hydrogen, biofuels and small modular nuclear reactors.” The premiers, who met for two days in Yellowknife, spoke at a closing news conference before the agreement was made public.
They said it’s time for Western Canada to become the country’s economic engine and the only thing standing in the way is the lack of infrastructure necessary to transport resources to new markets. But the premiers also said they can’t
act alone, and they called on Prime Minister Mark Carney for support, specifically in connecting ports on the West Coast to the coast of Hudson Bay.
“This will build economic security and prosperity for all Canadians,” the joint statement says of the port connection, adding a call for new federal funding programs for other economic corridors in remote and northern communities.
This year’s annual meeting of western premiers comes two weeks before all Canada’s premiers are to gather with Carney in Saskatoon.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said the western conference felt like “the start of a generationally beneficial discussion” that he hopes will continue when the premiers meet with Carney. The joint statement says the premiers also spoke about housing, Arctic security, emergency preparedness and public safety, and they called for federal action on all files.
While the premiers put on a united front in their statement, some told reporters they couldn’t agree on everything.
B.C. Premier David Eby said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s recent calls for the revival of the Northern Gateway pipeline project — which would’ve connected Alberta oil to the northern coast of B.C. — and the cancelling of the B.C. north coast tanker ban are premature.
Parents sought help for UBC Okanagan killer day before attack
A university janitor with a history of psychosis assured mental health workers he wasn’t having murderous thoughts the day before he savagely beat and killed a campus security guard.
Dante Ognibene-Hebbourn’s parents had spoken to Interior Health and expressed concern about their son’s mental state, saying it had been deteriorating and that they believed he needed to be put back on antipsychotic medication and readmitted to hospital as an involuntary patient.
But when he talked to Interior Health’s crisis response team, Ognibene-Hebbourn denied there was a problem. “He denied suicidal ideation, self-harm, homicidal ideation, and substance use, and he said that he had no delusional thoughts,” B.C. Supreme Court Judge Heather Holmes said last week at Ognibene-Hebbourn’s sentencing hearing for the manslaughter of Harmandeep Kaur.
in the early morning of Feb. 26, 2022, OgnibeneHebbourn was at work when he viciously set upon Kaur in a deserted university building. He struck her 21 times, repeatedly kicking her in the face and head, during three separate assaults over 30 minutes, most of which was captured on security footage.
“The killing was brutal and prolonged with Mr. OgnibeneHebbourn knocking Ms. Kaur to the ground, kicking her, and stomping on her face and head with his full force over 20 times,” the judge said.
The judge accepted a joint submission from prosecutor David Grabavac and defence lawyer Grant Gray that Ognibene-Hebbourn, who confessed to manslaughter, be sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. After credit for time served before his sentencing hearing, the effective sentence is 10 years and three months.
Notorious sex offender Randall Hopley re-arrested hours after release from Mission jail
Notorious sex offender Randall Hopley has been re-arrested shortly after he obtained statutory release from prison.
Hopley was released on Thursday morning from Mission Institution and was directed to reside at a halfway house in Vancouver.
Police said he refused the directions of his parole officer and left the halfway house.
A Canada-wide warrant was issued, and Hopley was arrested by Vancouver police on Thursday afternoon.
He remains in custody, police said. B.C. Premier Daivd Eby called the incident outrageous.
but cases like these highlight how confidence in the justice system is being tested. This is not the first time Hopley has left his halfway house.
“This was a decision, as I understand, made by federal corrections,” he said.
Hopley was charged in 2024 after disappearing from his halfway house in November 2023.
He went missing for 10 days in 2023, and the convicted sex offender cut off his ankle monitoring device before he fled the facility.
He was sentenced to spend another 18 months in jail.
Just hours after speaking with the response team,
BC woman who attempted to abduct child denied release from psych hospital
“That’s not a fair sentence,” Amrit Pal Singh told reporters outside the courtroom. “I would think a fair sentence would have been life imprisonment.
British Columbia’s highest court has refused a woman’s bid for release from the psychiatric hospital where she has languished for nearly seven years since she was found not criminally responsible for trying to abduct a four-year-old boy.
Gabriel Hunter Gibson, now 43 years old, argued before the B.C. Court of Appeal that her continued detention at the provincial Forensic Psychiatric Hospital is unconstitutional because the length of her detention has already exceeded the maximum prison sentence available for the
“The last time Mr. Hopley was released, he terrified a family and the entire province,” Eby said. “I can’t fathom how he would be released again, and also deeply disappointed that notification was not provided by Corrections Canada to the public, especially in the immediate area of where Mr. Hopley was planned to be released, so people could prepare.”
Eby added that he wants to thank the Vancouver police for being on top of the situation
assault and attempted abduction she was found to have committed.
But Justice W. Paul Riley, writing on behalf of the three-judge Appeal Court panel, ruled that her argument “rests on a failure to appreciate that detention of an individual found not criminally responsible on account of mental disorder is not a form of punishment.” Instead, the judge wrote, Gibson’s continued detention is “a necessary and justifiable form of state intervention that achieves the dual aims of protecting the public and treatment of the individual.”
In 2024, Hopley pleaded guilty to failing to attend court, breaking a long-term supervision order by being in the presence of children under 16 and failing or refusing to comply with a longterm supervision order by failing to reside at a community residential facility on April 26, 2023.
Hopley is known for abducting a three-yearold boy from a southeastern B.C. home in 2011.
The 59-year-old made international headlines in September 2011 after he kidnapped the child from his Sparwood home, triggering an Amber Alert and a Canada-wide search.
Gibson appealed to the court earlier this month after the B.C. Review Board declined to release her from the Coquitlam psychiatric hospital where she has been confined since September 2018. It was Gibson’s fifth appeal since the review board first decided the Okanagan woman “continues to pose a significant threat to the safety of the public,” according to the Appeal Court decision delivered Wednesday. Gibson was found not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder after trying to abduct the child, who was riding on a transit bus
with his great-grandmother, in Vernon in October 2016.
“Ms. Gibson grabbed the boy’s wrist and told his great-grandmother, ‘No, you’re not taking him, he’s my child,’” the judge summarized. “Another passenger intervened, pried Ms. Gibson’s hand off the boy’s wrist, and prevented the abduction.”
Gibson has a lengthy history of psychiatric troubles dating back to adolescence, and has been diagnosed with treatment-resistant schizoaffective disorder and substance use disorder, according to the review board.
Justin Trudeau to collect two pensions, $104K in severance
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The prime minister is already taking millions through their MP pension, they shouldn’t be billing taxpayers more for their second pension.”
A total of 110 former MPs are entitled to either severance or pension.
MPs who don’t meet the six years of service for pension entitlement will receive a severance payout of one-half their regular salary, or $104,900.
In some cases, departing MPs are entitled to both.
Former MPs eligible for a pension and at least $104,900 in severance include Niki Ashton, Rachel Blaney, Pam Damoff, Francis Drouin, Jagmeet Singh, Mark Holland, Kamal Khera, Bryan May, Seamus O’Regan and Alain Rayes. Despite being eligible after losing his seat on election night, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre stated earlier this month that he won’t accept any severance.
Politician pay, Terrazzano said, needs to be more affordable for taxpayers.
“There are 13 former MPs who will get an annual starting pension of more than $100,000, while the vast majority of private sector workers don’t even get a workplace pension,” he said.
“There definitely needs to be a culture change in Ottawa, and that has to start with our elected representatives.”
Bank of
Canada rate cut odds for June fall after April inflation data
Signs that underlying inflation was picking up in April put the Bank of Canada in a tricky position ahead of its June interest rate decision, with some economists arguing a second straight pause is now more likely.
“It is going to make it a much more challenging backdrop for the Bank of Canada to continue cutting rates, at least in the near term,” said Benjamin Reitzes, managing director of Canadian rates and macro strategist at BMO Capital Markets.
Statistics Canada on Tuesday reported a sharp slowing in the annual inflation rate -- to 1.7 per cent in April from 2.3 per cent in March.
The end of the consumer carbon price at the start of April was largely to thank for the easing in the headline figure, StatCan reported.
With the carbon levy vanishing at the pumps and global oil prices falling from a mixture of
reduced demand and a glut of supply, StatCan said gas prices fell 18.1 per cent annually in April. Natural gas prices also saw double-digit declines last month.
The only province that didn’t experience a slowdown in inflation was Quebec, a province that has its own cap-and-trade system and therefore didn’t benefit from the end of the federal carbon price regime.
But some economists pointed out Tuesday that the falling headline figure masks signs of trouble elsewhere in the consumer price index.
Excluding energy from the consumer price index, StatCan said inflation would have come in at 2.9 per cent for April -- an increase from 2.5 per cent for the same calculation in March.
“If you look a little bit deeper, the inflation numbers were unfortunately stronger than most everybody expected,” Reitzes said.
Jamil Jivani launches petition to end temporary foreign worker program
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The Ontario MP said it’s reached a point in Parliament where you “can’t have a sensible conversation” about the issue. Jivani said his petition does not include temporary workers in the agricultural sector. He suggested that seasonal agricultural workers should be under a separate program. The Ontario MP said that youth unemployment is one reason why he’s brought forward this petition.
The unemployment rate for people aged 15
to 24 reached 14 per cent in April, according to Statistics Canada’s May jobs report.
Last year, the government announced plans to reduce the number of temporary foreign workers being admitted to Canada. This measure includes refusing to process applications in metropolitan areas with more than six per cent unemployment.
The government plans to admit 82,000 workers annually under the temporary foreign worker program from 2025 to 2027, according to its immigration levels plan.
2 men face deportation after ‘knowingly’ dragging pedestrian under car
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Provincial court in Surrey heard that Gaganpreet Singh was driving the car, which stopped briefly after the collision.
Gaganpreet Singh, along with a passenger, Jagdeep Singh, got out of the car.
During a 911 recording played in court, a witness calls out to the men: “There’s a man underneath your car.”
Despite this, the vehicle speeds off, dragging J.G. for 1.3 kilometres and later stopping in a cul de sac.
That’s where the Singhs worked together to dislodge the victim.
In a victim impact statement read out in court, J.G.’s widow wrote: “They treated him like a piece of garbage, dumping him on the side of the road.”
“The nature of how he died was so violent,” she added. “He was so severely injured, we were not able to view his body.”
His widow described her late husband as a residential school survivor and devoted father.
“He was there helping (his kids) to take their
first steps. He took them to their first swimming lessons, skating lessons. He taught them their first Indigenous ancestral songs,” she wrote.
Charlie Gilhepsy, who called himself a longtime friend of the victim, sobbed in court.
He later told CTV News that it was tough to hear the details of what happened.
“(J.G.) was the most loving, kind man, one of the most I’ve known. And that’s God’s honest truth,” he said.
Gaganpreet Singh and Jagdeep Singh, both 22, came to Canada on international student visas. Court heard they will face deportation hearings after sentencing.
Neither of them has a previous criminal record, and both have said they regret their actions.
“I’m very sorry. I say sorry to the victim’s family,” Ganganpreet Singh said through an interpreter.
“I’ve been under stress since this accident happened,” he said. Crown is asking for prison time of four years for Jagdeep Singh and three for Gaganpreet Singh, in addition to three-year driving bans.
Flash
flood alert issued for western half of Viti Levu and parts of Vanua Levu
A Flash Flood Alert remains in force for small streams and low-lying, flash flood prone areas of the western half of Viti Levu including from Nadi, through Sabeto, Vuda, Lautoka, Ba, Tavua, Rakiraki and other parts of Vanua Levu from Dama, through Lekutu, Dreketi, Seaqaqa, Labasa, Nadogo and Namuka.
The Nadi Weather Office says a Heavy Rain Alert remains in force for the northern division and Yasawa group. They say occasional rain, heavy at times and few thunderstorms over Cakaudrove Province, Southern Bua and Yasawa group.
Another police officer from Counter Narcotics Bureau charged in relation to 4kg meth seizure
Another police officer based at the Counter Narcotics Bureau has been charged in relation to the alleged unlawful importation of more than 4 kilograms of methamphetamine seized during a joint operation with the Fiji Police Force and the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service. This is the second police officer based at the Counter Narcotics Bureau to be charged in relation to this case.
Police say the accused in his 30s has been charged with one count of Unlawful Importation of Illicit Drugs; Contrary to Section 5 (b) of the Illicit Drugs Act, 2004 and will be produced at the Nadi Magistrates Court today. Six people have now been charged by the Criminal Investigations Department's Major Crime Unit.
Fijian father swept off rocks in Australia remembered as caring and dedicated
Fijian national and a beloved father and husband, Monitake Karakaua who has not been seen since he was swept off rocks in front of his desperate family has been remembered as a caring and dedicated person.
He visited Salmon Holes, a popular but notorious fishing spot near Albany in Western Australia’s Great Southern, with his wife, two children and friends on Anzac Day.
7news.com.au reports their day out turned to tragedy when the 29-year-old disappeared into the surf after losing his footing and falling from the rocks at about 1.30pm.
They say his life jacket reportedly failed to inflate and friends could not reach him with buoys.
They add despite an extensive, multi-day search the Fijian national has not been found.
100,000 new passports will be arriving by the end of next week or the first week of June - Naupoto
100,000 passports will be arriving by the end of next week or the first week of June.
While confirming this on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan, Minister for Immigration, Viliame Naupoto says he sympathizes with the people affected, and that was his first objective when he took office this year.
Naupoto says the Department of Immigration was getting 40,000 new Fijian passports every year. He says he has decided that they will get 100,000 now, get another
100,000 passports in the next budget year, and 200,000 passports in the following budget year. Naupoto says he also had to deal with a passport printer that was not working at the department.
He adds they have a system from Germany and the border management system is from Sri Lanka, and unfortunately the two systems are not talking to each other as efficiently as it should.
Naupoto says they are exploring some options to make things easier for people.
Stats show that 30% of Fiji's population is diagnosed with diabetes
30 percent of the Fijian population are diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and most of them have their legs amputated or even die from this.
This was revealed by Sueetal Shitika Devi, a third-year Bachelor of Dietetics and Nutrition student at the Fiji National University.
When asked if they are considering that fast food restaurants be closed down because of this issue, Devi says they just can't close the restaurants because most people are earning money for their own families, but instead, they can help them come up with healthier options.
Devi further says even an infant can be diagnosed with diabetes when the child is born due to genetics.
Devi says this issue is mostly due to cultural barriers for most people, especially when some families don't eat certain foods along with most people who prefer to eat something easy and unhealthy.
She says most people prefer fast foods from restaurants which are mostly unhealthy.
She adds that the chances of getting diabetes increase if a person is physically inactive, eating unhealthy, smoking tobacco, and also drinking alcohol more than five times per day.
Devi has also called on the government to step in and try and come up with a policy to help reduce the consumption of alcohol by people to help counter the rise of diabetes in the country.
She says not only does the government need to step in, but everyone needs to play their roles and help one another come up with healthy options to prevent diabetes.
17-yr-old girl alleges abduction, abuse
A 17-year-old girl here has alleged that she was kidnapped and abused by four youths, who also kept her in captivity.
The girl had fallen unconscious in the commercial area of Street 11 here on Wednesday. Passersby informed the Nar Sewa Narayan Sewa Samiti, an NGO, about the incident. Volunteers of the samiti took her to the Civil Hospital, where she regained consciousness.
The girl alleged that she was kidnapped by four youths in Fazilka, who took her in a car to Ferozepur, where she was abused and made hostage. She, somehow, escaped from their captivity. The victim, who belongs to Hanumangarh, Rajasthan, said after her parents died sometime back, she came to live with a relative in Fazilka.
She said about four days ago when she was returning home from school, four masked men in a car kidnapped her and took her to a bungalow in Ferozepur where they gave her an intoxicating injection and abused her. She did not want to go to her relatives in Fazilka.
Dr Dharamveer Arora of Civil Hospital said the girl was unable to give the complete address of her relatives. Official sources said the victim was given treatment. A security guard has been deployed in the hospital. Balkar Singh, DSP (D), has been asked to probe the matter.
Days after Amritsar hooch tragedy, 3 die in Ludhiana
Following the Amritsar hooch tragedy that claimed 27 lives earlier this month, three persons died after allegedly consuming liquor at Basti Jodhewal here, the police said on Thursday.
The victims, identified as labourers Rinku (40), Debi (27) and Mangoo (32), drank liquor at a vacant plot along the Noorwala Road on Wednesday night. Shortly after, they lost consciousness and began frothing at the mouth. They were rushed to the local Civil Hospital, where doctors declared them dead.
Senior Medical Officer Dr Harpreet Singh said the exact cause of death would be determined only after the post-mortem report. Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma confirmed that the liquor consumed by the victims was
been collected and sent for lab analysis,” he said, adding that an FIR had been registered against the liquor shop owner.
Sources said it remained unclear whether the liquor was spurious or if the victims had mixed it with another substance. An Excise Department official too questioned whether the liquor alone was responsible, noting that no other customers who purchased from the same batch reported issues. “Had it been spurious, the toll would have been higher. They may have mixed drugs with the liquor,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the back-to-back incidents have raised serious questions about the effectiveness of the AAP government’s anti-drug campaign, ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’. Opposition leaders have
Sobha Singh’s family objects to unauthorised use of Guru Hargobind painting by Punjab govt
The family of legendary artist Sardar Sobha Singh, who has created paintings of Sikh Gurus, on Monday raised objections against the unauthorised use of his painting of Guru Hargobind Sahib by the Punjab government.
Speaking to The Tribune, Sobha Singh’s grandson, Hirday Paul Singh, said that what was more appalling was that the painting has been used without giving credit to the artist.
“We are not demanding financial compensation. Our only request was that the government formally seek permission from Sobha Singh’s family. Besides, the officials even removed the artist’s signature from the painting before sharing it on public platforms,” he said.
In a letter addressed to CM Bhagwant Mann, Hirday has alleged that the Department of Information and Public Relations used the painting across various social media platforms without authorisation.
He has further stated that the artwork is registered under the Copyright Act with the Government of India, and all publishing rights are reserved by the artist’s family. Hirday added that the family shares a longstanding cordial relationship with the Punjab Government and would have “gladly permitted the use of the painting if approached formally.” “We trust this oversight will not be repeated in the future,” he concluded the letter.
Punjab terms concealment of 'facts' by Centre, Haryana as 'institutional bullying'
Alleging deliberate concealment of “material facts” both by Centre and Haryana, Punjab on Thursday said the Punjab and Haryana High Court was never informed of a statutory reference made by the Bhakra Beas Management Board chairman to the Central Government regarding the dispute over release of additional water.
Appearing before the Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel, senior advocate Gurminder Singh submitted on Punjab’s behalf that the reference was made to the Centre by the BBMB chairman at Haryana’s behest on April 29 following a difference of opinion between it and Punjab on the release of additional water. He submitted that the BBMB after the making of reference to the Centre became “functus officio” –– a Latin term meaning “having performed his office”.
provisions of Rule 7 of the BBMB Rules, 1974. The Rule makes it clear that any disagreement involving policy or inter-state rights must be referred to the Centre for a binding decision.
He added that the BBMB chairman, despite making the reference to the Centre, presided over a meeting the next day on April 30 and “chose to conceal and remain silent”. He further submitted that the High Court was also kept in the dark about the actual developments that took place during a subsequent meeting convened by the Ministry of Power under the Home Secretary’s chairmanship.
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Satyapal Malik in Kiru hydropower corruption case
The CBI has filed a chargesheet against former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satyapal Malik and five others in connection with alleged corruption in the award of Rs 2,200-crore civil works for Kiru hydropower project, officials said Thursday.
The agency has submitted its findings after three years of probe before a special court naming Malik and five others as accused.
In a message on 'X' on Thursday, Malik said he was admitted in the hospital and not in a condition to talk to anyone.
one pertaining to the project.
He had denied allegations of corruption against him after the agency conducted search operation last year.
The former governor said he was getting calls from many well-wishers which he was unable to take. The CBI had conducted searches at the premises of Malik and others in connection with the case in February last year. In a statement after the registration of the FIR in 2022, the CBI had said the case pertains to the alleged malpractices in the award of the contract worth about Rs 2,200 crore of civil works of the Kiru Hydro Electric Power (HEP) Project to a private company in 2019.
Malik, who was the governor of Jammu and Kashmir from August 23, 2018 to October 30, 2019, had claimed that he was offered a Rs 300-crore bribe for clearing two files, including the
Malik said his residence was raided by the CBI instead of investigating the people he had complained about and who were involved in corruption.
“They will not get anything except 4-5 kurtas and pyjamas. The dictator is trying to scare me by misusing government agencies. I am a farmer's son, I will neither be afraid nor bow down,” he had posted online.
The central agency has booked Navin Kumar Choudhary, the then chairman of the Chenab Valley Power Projects Private Limited (CVPPPL), and other officials including M S Babu, M K Mittal and Arun Kumar Mishra, besides construction firm Patel Engineering Limited.
“Though a decision was taken in the 47th board meeting of CVPPPL for re-tender through e-tendering with a reverse auction after the cancellation of the ongoing tendering process, the same was not implemented (according to the decision taken in the 48th board meeting) and the tender was finally awarded to Patel Engineering Limited,” the FIR has alleged.
India is not only future-ready, it is shaping that future: Foreign Secy Misri in Tokyo
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri delivered the spotlight address at the 2nd edition of the Raisina Tokyo Dialogue, highlighting the multifaceted nature of the India-Japan partnership, including new greenfield sectors for cooperation.
Speaking on India's economic landscape at the event, Misri highlighted that the country continues to be a highly attractive destination for global capital, backed by strong foreign exchange reserves, declining inflation, and a large, young, and dynamic workforce. He noted that India's foreign exchange reserves have exceeded USD 690 billion, and retail inflation dropped to 3.16 per cent in April 2025, the lowest in nearly six years.
With a population of 1.4 billion and a median age under 29, India remains one of the world's largest and most promising consumer markets.
This demographic strength, combined with a rising middle class and an expanding workforce, positions India to play a key role in the technologydriven future.
He emphasized the strategic shift in India's economic model, with a renewed focus on manufacturing-led growth. The "Make in India" initiative, launched in 2014, has led to increased investment across diverse sectors, including electronics, defence, pharmaceuticals, and textiles. Misri highlighted the Production Linked Incentive Scheme, which is projected to attract USD 520 billion in investment and includes more than two dozen Japanese companies. India has also allocated USD 10 billion to develop a semiconductor ecosystem, while collaboration with Japan in this sector is expected to enhance talent and innovation on both sides. "We are also nurturing semiconductor-ready talent, which will supplement similar efforts by Japan to rediscover its traditional strength in this sector," he said.
India's electric vehicle sector is also undergoing transformation, supported by policies such
as FAME-II and new incentives for battery manufacturing. As the world's fourth-largest vehicle producer, India is aiming to replicate the India-Japan success of Maruti-Suzuki in the age of electric mobility.
India has made significant reforms to foster a transparent and efficient business environment, liberalizing foreign direct investment (FDI) limits in defence, insurance, and space technology, while simplifying business compliance and tax structures. The country's ranking in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business index improved from 142nd in 2014 to 63rd in 2020. Legal reforms have reduced over 39,000 business compliances and decriminalized hundreds of minor offences, streamlining enterprise operations. The government has prioritized transparency and digital governance, with tools like the National Single Window System providing access to over 150 approvals and clearances. Initiatives such as MCA21 and GSTN have simplified filings and compliance for businesses. Misri said, "The simplification of India's complex labour regulations into four unified labour codes has reduced the compliance burden while balancing workers' rights with industry flexibility."
INDIA
Hand over wanted terrorists, EAM tells Pak
India on Thursday called on Pakistan to hand over terrorists named in the list previously shared with Islamabad even as External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during his Europe tour, accused the Pakistani government and its army of actively supporting terrorism. In an interview with Dutch publication “De Volkskrant”, Jaishankar reiterated India’s demand for a permanent end to terrorism, warning that while the ceasefire has halted military action for now, there would be consequences if terror attacks from Pakistan continued.
The minister said it was erroneous to go along with the narrative that Pakistan “doesn’t know what is going on”. “The most notorious terrorists on the UN sanctions list are all in Pakistan. Let’s not pretend Pakistan is not involved. The state is involved. The army is up to its neck in it.” His remarks came ahead of an all-party Indian delegation’s visit to Europe from May 25. The delegation will travel to France, Italy, Denmark, the UK, Belgium and
Germany where the leaders will reinforce India’s stance that all terror links, direct and indirect, trace back to Pakistan.
The minister rejected any justification for terrorism, calling it an “unacceptable international crime”. On Kashmir, he reiterated India’s position that Pakistan must vacate illegally occupied territories and said, “Our position is clear. The illegal occupiers (Pakistan) must return what belongs to India. No third-party intervention is acceptable. This is a bilateral issue.”
In New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal echoed Jaishankar’s message. “Talks and terror cannot go together. We remain open to discussing the extradition of wanted terrorists whose list was provided to Pakistan some years ago,” he said. Regarding any future dialogue on J&K, Jaiswal said, “Discussions will only proceed if Pakistan vacates illegally occupied Indian territory.”
UAE, Japan express solidarity with India in war against terror
The UAE and Japan today expressed solidarity with India in its war against terrorism as all-party delegations’ diplomatic outreach commenced today to sensitise global leadership about terror emanating from Pakistan.
A delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde held talks in the UAE. It will also travel to Congo, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Another delegation, headed by Janata Dal (United) leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, is currently in Japan and is scheduled to visit South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. In Japan, the delegation met Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, who expressed heartfelt condolences to the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack and extended sympathies to those injured. The Japanese Foreign Minister reiterated Japan’s support to India’s fight against terrorism and expressed appreciation for the restraint shown by the Indian side, a statement by the Indian Embassy in Tokyo said.
The delegation also met former PM of Japan
Yoshihide Suga, who is the Vice President of Liberal Democratic Party and chairman of JapanIndia Association. Jha told the Japanese leaders, “India has zero tolerance for terrorism and that it does not differentiate between terrorists and those supporting them.”
The delegation sought Japan’s support in the fight against terrorism and, in this context, called for giving effect to the UN Security Council Press Statement of April 25, 2025, that underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and to bring them to justice.
“Terrorism is a threat not just to a single nation or region, but it is a global threat.
We believe that we, as an international community, should come together, especially the Members of Parliament, to work on putting plans and strategies and engage in creating a better future for all humanity,” Al Nuaimi told mediapersons in Abu Dhabi.
Indian man arrested in US for plotting to kill his wife
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Cox eventually cooperated with police after seeking legal counsel and admitted Soni had offered him money and a used car—a silver Ford Escape—to assist with the murder and help create an alibi by carrying Soni’s phone elsewhere.
Further investigation revealed disturbing details, as per court documents.
The victim reported odd-tasting smoothies and health issues in recent months. She recalled finding a white clumpy substance in her drink, which Soni dismissed as dish detergent.
Cox later confirmed Soni claimed to have ordered poison, possibly Thallium or Valium, from India, though Soni said it was ineffective.
Under police surveillance, Cox wore a wire during a meeting with Soni on May 15.
During the recorded conversation, Soni appeared to walk back the plot, crediting Cox for talking him “off a ledge.” However, he also discussed philosophies around violence, detailed murder plots he had read about, and hinted that he still considered extreme actions before deciding on divorce. Soni’s arrest follows a coordinated effort between Carmel police and the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. He is charged with one count of attempted murder, a Level 1 felony, and one count of conspiracy to commit murder, a Level 2 felony. He is scheduled to make a court appearance on May 22.
The victim, who remains unnamed, has since been notified and provided support resources. Family members have expressed disbelief, with the victim reportedly describing Soni as innocent.
